Gujarat Titans (GT) remained committed to their composed and low-key approach with the bat, and it yielded rich dividends as they achieved a decisive 39-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Monday.
On a slow surface, GT accumulated a competitive total of 198/3 before their bowlers implemented a disciplined strategy to keep a struggling KKR at 159/8, making GT's grip at the top of the points table even firmer.
Leading from the front, captain Shubman Gill played a masterful 90 off only 55 deliveries, holding the innings together and taking his team to a strong score. His association with B Sai Sudharsan, who made a calm 52 off 36 balls and moved to the top of the tournament's run-scoring charts, set the tone. Jos Buttler gave a strong finish with a quick unbeaten 41 off 23 deliveries.
Though some critics raised questions over the Titans' cautious approach, their strong bowling attack put all such doubts to rest. Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan took two wickets each to keep KKR at bay, securing GT's sixth win of the season.
Choosing to bat first, Titans started slowly. Sudharsan found early fours through a cut and a traditional cover drive off Vaibhav Arora in the third over. Gill joined the party with consecutive fours off Harshit Rana, going on to punish Varun Chakaravarthy with another cut boundary as GT completed the powerplay at 46/0.
Gill quickly changed tack, walking out to deposit Moeen Ali over the rope for a six, and supplementing it with nicely timed flicks and pulls for fours. The pair again ruled over spin and pace both. Gill compiled his third half-century of the season in 34 balls, with Sudharsan at his heels getting his fifth fifty of the tournament from 33 balls. Their partnership crossed the 100-mark with ease.
KKR finally broke through when Andre Russell dismissed Sudharsan in the 13th over, the left-hander edging a short ball to keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Buttler then did not waste any time getting settled, hitting five boundaries off his first 12 balls through a mix of strokes – a pull, a lofted drive, a subtle scoop, a top-edged reverse sweep, and a slice of luck when Arora dropped a catch that rushed to the boundary.
Gill accelerated again, dispatching Chakaravarthy and Narine for boundaries and sixes before eventually falling for 90, slicing a delivery to a diving fielder at cow corner. Although Rahul Tewatia was caught at deep cover, Buttler ensured a strong finish with three boundaries in the final overs, helping GT add 59 runs in the last five.
In reply, KKR's batting reorganization came a cropper in the first over itself. Mohammed Siraj leg-trapped Gurbaz leg-before, and the opener squandered a review while doing so. Ajinkya Rahane attempted to keep the chase going, displaying a combination of flicks, ramps, and flat-batted shots to hit four boundaries in a flash.
Sunil Narine tried to raise the ante with a four and six off Siraj, but Rashid Khan pulled one back, getting him caught at deep backward square leg. By the end of the powerplay, KKR were 45/2. From then on, the Titans' spinners dominated, using the slow pitch and inconsistent bounce to good effect, stifling the boundaries through the middle overs.
Rahane resisted, scoring a four and a six off Washington Sundar and eventually reaching his half-century in 36 balls. But his innings came to an end when he was stumped off a fuller, faster ball from Sundar.
Though Andre Russell hit hard and made a couple of shots, the middle and lower order did not fire. Ramandeep Singh and Moeen Ali got out cheaply, with Prasidh Krishna getting two of them to shatter any hopes the hosts had left. GT finally completed a dominating victory.
Match Summary:
Gujarat Titans 198/3 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 90, B Sai Sudharsan 52; Andre Russell 1-13, Vaibhav Arora 1-44)
beat
Kolkata Knight Riders 159/8 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 50, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 27; Prasidh Krishna 2-25, Rashid Khan 2-25)
by 39 runs.*
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